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Abstract

By utilizing an X-ray diffractometer for the observation of liquid surfaces, the depth profile of the electron density of a magnetic fluid across the surface was studied. The observed X-ray reflectivity indicated oscillatory behaviour in the electron density along the surface-normal direction. The layer spacing is comparable to the dimensions of the magnetic fine particles. The temperature dependence of this long-range-ordered surface structure exhibited a distinctive feature: not only the period but also the amplitude and the decay length of the electron density oscillations increase with increasing temperature. The results are compared with features of the surface layering observed for metallic liquids